Venethia

Meet Venethia!

A twenty-eight-year-old, single mother of two sons in Marietta, Georgia. Venethia contacted H.O.P.E. Inc. for rent assistance to help her remain in school while attending a very competitive Dental Hygiene program at Fortis College.

Background

Venethia is a single mother of two sons.

Client Situation

Venethia was doing all she could to avoid dropping out of school because she didn’t see a way out when it came to her rent problems. She was in a very rigorous Dental Hygiene program at Fortis College and only had the support of her grandparents. Her program advisor referred her to H.O.P.E, Inc. when her circumstances seemed to get overbearing and she found herself behind in her rent.

Action

H.O.P.E. Inc. agreed to assist Venethia with $300 a month in rent assistance. Venethia thrived throughout the program. She was able to eliminate extra expenses and begin saving. With the stress of shelter removed, she was able to focus on her studies, passing the State Boards to practice as a Hygienist.  Venethia graduated with her Associate’s in Dental Hygiene in April of 2018, increasing her income from $35,000 annually to $68,000, a 338% increase!  

Venethia accredits H.O.P.E, Inc. for graduating and gives back to H.O.P.E. Inc. as a monthly donor.

Testimonial

“I tell people all the time that this is the program that got me through school! I’m so grateful for HOPE!!!“

(Venethia, 2018 Graduate) 

Melissa

Meet Melissa

A thirty-year old, single female who lives with her five-year old daughter. Melissa contacted H.O.P.E. Inc. for financial assistance due to the fact that she had to switch from full-time to part-time employment because of her college studies and internship schedule. Her recently reduced income was making it difficult for her to financially provide for her daughter, while she worked part-time, attended college and interned, leading her to experience additional issues with childcare and scheduling conflicts.

Background

Melissa is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Georgia State University and will graduate in Spring 2014. After graduation, she intends to continue her studies and enroll in the university’s Social Work Master’s program. Melissa currently works part-time at a local restaurant and interns at a nursing home, assisting social workers in caring for geriatric residents. Melissa is the sole provider for her young daughter who is enrolled kindergarten.

Client Situation

Melissa was referred to H.O.P.E. Inc. by one of her professors since she was in need of rent assistance to help care for her daughter while she was in college. As a full-time college student, who worked full-time, Melissa had to cut back her work schedule to part-time since college graduation requirements mandated that she also enroll in a social work internship program while taking her classes full-time. As a mother, Melissa’s schedule was very limited. She could not seek full-time work in the evening hours because she had to be at home with her daughter. A reduced household income was making it difficult for Melissa to financially provide for her daughterand maintain a very difficult class schedule.

Action

Melissa reached out to H.O.P.E. Inc. for help. After completing her application, Melissa was able to speak with H.O.P.E. Inc.’s President, who let her know that the organization would be able to assist her with financial assistance to pay her rent. After a couple of weeks, H.O.P.E. Inc. secured the funds that were needed so that Melissa could continue to provide for her daughter and also ensure that there was no interruption in her college studies. Because of H.O.P.E. Inc.’s financial assistance, Melissa will be able to graduate from college on time.

Testimonial

“H.O.P.E. Inc. was very encouraging to me through the whole process. It felt very good to have someone’s support that understood the special needs of a single mother like me, trying to work, provide for my young daughter, and pursue a college education. I want to encourage anyone who is trying to balance work, college, and motherhood to give them a call and learn more about how they can help. The good thing is, H.O.P.E. Inc. will let you know that you’re not alone.”

Melissa

H.O.P.E. Inc.’s services and support have not only helped Melissa stay on schedule to graduate from college, intern at a nursing home, and serve on a geriatric task force, but has set her on a path to consider a career in social work gerontology – meeting the needs of America’s aging society.

Katurra

Meet Katurra

She is a twenty-three year old, single female who lives with her young son in Savanna, Georgia. Katurra contacted H.O.P.E. Inc. for financial assistance to better provide for her son as she sought to pursue her college studies.

Background

As the daughter of a U.S. Army soldier, Katurra was born at Fort Stewart, the largest military installation base, located east of the Mississippi River. Katurra attended Georgia Southern College for two years, before an unplanned pregnancy made it difficult for her to pursue her immediate educational goals. At 20 years of age and pregnant, Katurra landed a low-paying job to help make ends meet, but found life difficult as she tried to stay in school without any family and community support to help during this critical period in her life. As her grade point average slipped from A’s to C’s, Katurra knew she needed help and she began to research organizations that were willing to financially assist single mothers while enrolled in school.

Client Situation

Katurra contacted H.O.P.E. Inc., but at the time the organization was only assisting young women who lived in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Katurra was undeterred and decided to put her application in anyway. “I decided to put my application anyway because at 20 years old and pregnant, I felt all alone, and I was desperate to find ways to support my new baby and stay in college.” Katurra’s name was added to a waiting list for four months, but she credits H.O.P.E. Inc.’s founder, Kenita Pierce-Lewis for recognizing the potential that she had to succeed when others did not. “I wasn’t getting the support I needed from my family, but Kenita gave the encouragement and boost I needed to keep going and not give up,” Katurra said. “I was an independent person, and I wanted to do well and get my life back, and H.O.P.E. Inc. provided me with the encouragement I needed. A day after Katurra delivered her son, she transferred from Georgia Southern University to South University in 2011, and enrolled in their online program.”

Action

With H.O.P.E. Inc.’s assistance to help with rent and child-care expenses, Katurra is maintaining a 4.0 GPA and is targeted to graduate in June of 2014 with a Associate’s degree in Business Administration and her Bachelor’s degree in the Spring of 2015. The future looks bright for Katurra now, as she continues her college studies, raises her son and opts in to take advantage of a number of additional resources that H.O.P.E. Inc. offers, like financial planning and bible studies.

Testimonial

“As a new mother, keeping up with my college studies was difficult enough, and I wasn’t trained to also know how to start a budget to manage my money wisely and how to stay out of debt,” she said. “But the beauty of H.O.P.E. Inc., is that this organization wants everyone to succeed. It’s not just about them helping young parents complete their college education, but helping us learn life skills to improve our lives and better prepare for our families.”

Katurra

Michelle

Meet Michelle

She is a forty-five year old, single female who lives with her two twin daughters fourteen-years old in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Michelle suffered great financial hardship due to working 25 hours a week at a Belk’s retail store making $9 hours, while diligently working to complete her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work (BSW) at Georgia State University. Her required internship schedule made it very difficult to find full-time employment and she was at her wits end. Her low income made it very difficult to pay rent monthly.

Background

Michelle is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Georgia State University and will graduate in Spring 2014. After graduation, she intends to continue her studies and enroll in the university’s Social Work Master’s program. Michelle currently works part-time at a local retail store called Belk and interns at a nursing home.

Client Situation

Michelle was referred to H.O.P.E. Inc. by one of her professors at GSU. She was in need of rent assistance to help care for her two daughters while she attended college. As a part-time employee and full-time college student, Michelle faced the reality of possible eviction every month. Despite all of her efforts to find a flexible full-time position with higher pay, Michelle was unsuccessful. All of her savings had been eradicated, and her income did not cover her living expenses. She desired to press forward for her and her children’s sake, quitting school was not an option for her.

Action

After completing her application, Michelle was able to speak with H.O.P.E. Inc.’s President, who let her know that the organization would be able to assist her with financial assistance to pay her rent. Within two weeks, H.O.P.E. Inc. was able to provide her the funds needed to avoid eviction and provide for her daughters. Because of H.O.P.E. Inc.’s financial assistance, Michelle will be able to graduate May 2014 on time.

Testimonial

“HOPE was a gift from God, the financial support I received help supplement my monthly rent and made by burden that much lighter. When I heard of HOPE I was in my final year of my studies and this program helped me cross that finish line. HOPE provided that added support I needed, not just financial but also emotional.”

Michelle

Maria

Meet Maria

She is a thirty-three year old, single mother of three.

Background

She contacted H.O.P.E. Inc. for financial assistance when she found herself living on a friends couch, homeless, trying to pursue her college studies.

Client Situation

Maria was going through a divorce, nothing a young mother of three wants to experience. She was faced with a quick reality that she hadn’t experienced before, she was a single mother and she soon realized that being a single mom is very difficult.

Action

By providing rent and childcare assistance, H.O.P.E. Inc. did just that for Maria. Maria was able to get off her friend’s couch, pay her rent on time, and meet her childcare needs. Maria made it! She graduated in 2013 with an Associate’s degree in Psychology and continued her education to obtain her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology.

Testimonial

“Your organization helped me a great deal. With your help, my financial burden was liften and I was able to put more focus on my school work and it showed in my grades! It was all because of the support I received from H.O.P.E., and I thank you.”

Maria

Melodie

Meet Melodie

She is a twenty-nine year old, single mother of two beautiful girls. She contacted H.O.P.E. Inc. for financial assistance with childcare when she didn’t have anywhere to turn.

Background

Melodie was living at home with her parents, working hard to obtain her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. With only a year and a half left, and no where else to turn, she looked to H.O.P.E, for help with her growing childcare expenses.

Client Situation

Melodie did her best to provide for her daughters on a part-time salary with Old Navy. For the past several months, her hours were cut making it hard for her to take care of even the little things she need. Her net pay barely covered her car payment. She diligently looked for a new job, but she wasn’t having any luck. When she went to the Department of Family and Children Services, she was denied childcare assistance because she attended a four year college. She needed help. “I work part-time at Old Navy, but for the past several months I have not been getting the hours I need to take care of even the little things I need. My pay checks barely pay for my car payment.”

Action

Melodie contacted H.O.P.E, Inc., and within one month she was receiving the help she needed. She graduated in December of 2012, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, a 3.9 GPA, and honors! While within the H.O.P.E, Inc. program, Melodie, obtained an internship with the Dekalb Juvenile Center, where she now works full-time and is financially stable. In fact, she moved out of her parents’ home, shortly after graduating and her daughters are doing well!

Testimonial

“Just wanted to say thank you again for helping me with my daughter’s daycare. If it wasn’t for H.O.P.E, Inc. I wouldn’t have been able to afford childcarem possibly prolonging my graduation date.”

Melodie

Tamika

Meet Tamika

She is a thirty-six years old, single mom who lives with her five children in, Loganville Georgia. Tamika contacted H.O.P.E. Inc. for rent assistance after graduating of Rainbow Village’s transitional housing program, she contacted us with desires to complete her education.

Background

Tamika needed H.O.P.E, Inc.’s help after overcoming homelessness.

Client Situation

Tamika contacted H.O.P.E. Inc. through a partnership with Rainbow Village. After being a resident of Rainbow Village for seventeen months, it was time for her to leave. However, it was difficult for her to find housing in her price range. With five children, she was unable to get approved for an apartment, and her options were getting increasingly limited. She did not want to quit school and work two jobs; therefore, she felt that H.O.P.E was her last hope. Although a Gwinnett Habitat candidate, she was wait listed and not expected to be considered for housing until at least two years. She knew that with our help, she could complete her degree in one year, meet her monthly financial obligations, and keep a roof over her children’s heads.”

Action

H.O.P.E. Inc. provided Tamika with rent assistance to help her find housing that she could afford and maintain college enrollment. As a result, Tamika was able to maintain housing for her children, build her emergency savings fund, and even purchase a home through the Gwinnett Habitat. She is now a proud home owner, and graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management! As a member of H.O.P.E, Inc.’s Pay It Forward Graduate Program, she plans to give back to this wonderful program.

Testimonial

“I can finally see it all coming together for my family. I’m going to spend my spare time in the summer typing up a short encouragement novel for others that encounter similar obstacles like mine to use as motivation. I’m so blessed that God put all of you in my life, and I just thank y’all from the bottom of my heart. I plan to give back in any way possible.”

Tamika

Lindsey

Meet Lindsey

She is a thirty years old, single mom who lives with her two children in, College Park Georgia. Lindsey contacted H.O.P.E. Inc. for rent and childcare assistance to avoid eviction as she sought to pursue her college studies.

Background

Lindsey needed H.O.P.E, Inc.’s help to help her manage her day-to-day expenses.

Client Situation

Lindsey contacted H.O.P.E. Inc. when she realized that she was getting behind in her bills, and she was not sure if she would have lights in her home or not. She was working as a maintenance worker at the airport making $10 an hour, and her hours had been reduced due to light travel over the summer months. She was a full-time student trying to obtain her Associates degree as a Database Specialist. With only a couple of semesters to go, she needed H.O.P.E, Inc.’s help.

Action

H.O.P.E. Inc. provided Lindsey with rent and childcare assistance to help her avoid eviction and maintain her monthly bills. As a result, Lindsey graduated with her Associates’ degree in Database Specialist from Atlanta Tech in June of 2017, and rose above all of the obstacles she faced. Her goal was to proof those who told her she couldn’t make it wrong. Not only did she make it, she excelled. She decided to continue her education by pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Health Information Management from Augusta University.

Testimonial

“Programs like this are a blessing in disguise. There have been many times where I was not sure if my lights would be on when we got home, or if we could afford dinner for the week. I’ve grown tremendously this past year, and I feel like nothing can stop me.”

Lindsey

Jeremee

Meet Jeremee

She is a thirty-six years old, single mom who lives with her daughter in, Hampton Georgia. Jeremee contacted H.O.P.E. Inc. for rent and childcare assistance to avoid eviction as she sought to pursue her college studies.

Background

Jeremee needed H.O.P.E, Inc.’s help to keep her special needs daughter on physical therapy while she pursued her college degree.

Client Situation

Jeremee contacted H.O.P.E. Inc. when she realized that she was going to have to make a choice between paying her bills and meeting her daughter’s special medical needs financially. Maintaining all of her bills soon became a constant struggle, and trying to make sure her daughter was thriving development wise, was overwhelming. With a job making only $8 an hour, she didn’t know how she was going to make ends meet. She knew that without a college degree, she would continue to struggle.

Action

H.O.P.E. Inc. provided Jeremee with rent and childcare assistance to help her avoid eviction and find a good school for Israel that specialized in her development disorder. As a result, Jeremee graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Georgia Piedmont Tech in 2016, and her daughter is not only thriving, but she talks, walks, attends public school, and even rides a bike (all things she was presumed to never be able to do). She also got engaged! As a member of H.O.P.E, Inc.’s Pay It Forward Graduate Program, she plans to give back to this wonderful program.

Testimonial

“So again, I tell you what HOPE is to me. HOPE is the difference between me being able to take my daughter to her 6 therapies a week instead of the 1 she was able to get when I was working three jobs. HOPE is the difference between my daughter going to quality daycare with staff trained to care for special needs children and her attending a daycare I didn’t like and couldn’t afford that leaves her in a high chair all day because they didn’t know what to do with her. Hope is/was the difference between me having time to study for my schoolwork and remembering what I learned rather than relying on what I could cram right before a test because some days I am so tired that all I feel I can do is bathe, feed, and sleep with my sweet Israel. The organization recognized that I was really trying and needed a confident support beam for my leaning household.”

Jeremee

Tiffany

Meet Tiffany

She is a forty-three-year-old, single female single mother of two in Sandy Springs, Georgia. Tiffany contacted H.O.P.E. Inc. for rent assistance to better provide for her daughter and help her recent high school graduate son cover college tuition, while she also sought to pursue her college studies.

Background

Tiffany is a single mother of two children.

Client Situation

Tiffany contacted H.O.P.E. Inc. with hopes that we would help her supplement her income. She was attending Georgia Perimeter College (GPC) Full-Time to obtain her Associates Degree in Nursing, and working Part-Time as a Patient Care Tech at Grady Hospital making a little over $12.95 an hour. She could only work part-time (24 hours) due to the demands of the nursing program, which made making ends meet extremely hard, since her rent was $1,173. Prior to enrolling in the GPC’s Nursing program, she had a full-time and part-time job. Unable to cover her basic needs, she applied for the H.O.P.E, Inc. program in November of 2014 and was accepted in December of 2015 due to a long waiting list.

Action

H.O.P.E. Inc. agreed to assist Tiffany with $300 a month in rent assistance. With financial training guidance, Tiffany was able to move into an apartment in Sandy Springs for $922 a month, saving $251, and her son was able to complete his first year at LSU getting better grades than he did in high school. She managed to successfully graduate from the GPC Nursing program with her Associates in Nursing in May of 2016, increasing her annual income by $40,0000 ($14,918 to over $55,000)! Tiffany is loves what H.O.P.E, Inc. did for her and plans to give back to H.O.P.E. Inc.

Testimonial

“H.O.P.E, Inc. is so much more than an organization. It’s bigger than that! It changes lives!! It changed my life and my children’s lives and allowed me to care for people with infirmities and still have hope. The spirit of selflessness and love flowerd into my home. I don’t think people truly get that!”

Tiffany, 2016 Graduate